Case with fluid-tight closure device

ABSTRACT

A case, e.g., a watch case, includes two case parts and two slide-operated devices for gripping together the case parts thereby deforming a packing ring to ensure fluid-tight closure of the case. Each device includes rail-forming elements disposed facing one another on the peripheries of the respective case parts, and a slide piece including a channel which straddles and slidably engages about the adjacent elements. The rail-forming elements are part cylindrical and include opposed convex surface portions against which oblique surfaces of said channel contact to wedge the case-parts together.

United States Patent Taubert 451 Feb. 12, 1974 CASE WITH FLUID-TIGHT CLOSURE DEVICE Inventor: Bernard Taubert, 27 Chemin Sous-Caran, 1222 Vesenaz, Switzerland Filed: May 28, 1973 App]. No.: 364,653

Foreign Application Priority Data June 19, 1972 Switzerland 9147/72 US. Cl. 58/90 R, 220/81 R Int. Cl. G04b 37/08 Field of Search 58/90 R; 220/81 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1944 Sickinger 58/90 R 6/1968 Fleming et al. 220/81 R Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hubbell, Cohen & Stiefel; Lawrence G. Kurland 57 ABSTRACT A case, e.g., a watch case, includes two case parts and two slide-operated devices for gripping together the case parts thereby deforming a packing ring to ensure fluid-tight closure of the case. Each device includes rail-forming elements disposed facing one another on the peripheries of the respective case parts, and a slide piece including a channel which straddles and slidably engages about the adjacent elements. The rail-forming elements are part cylindrical and include opposed convex surface portions against which oblique surfaces of said channel contact to wedge the case-parts together.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CASE WITH FLUID-TIGHT CLOSURE DEVICE The present invention relates to fluid-tightly closed hollow cases, such as watch cases.

A known type of hollow case comprises two main case parts, two slide devices forming means for gripping together said two case parts to fluid-tightly close the case, at least one elastically deformable fluid-tight packing member, and means for compressing said at least one packing member, directly or indirectly by the said two case parts when they are gripped together by said slide devices.

A watch case of this type is described, for example, in Swiss Pat. No. 207,378. Such known cases however have the drawback of requiring special tools for per- I forming the closing operation, i.e., for strongly pressing together the two case parts to enable the slide devices to be placed in a working position.

An object of the invention is to remedy this drawback by providing a construction which enables fluid-tight closing of the case, and opening thereof, to be easily carried out by hand and therefore without a need for special tools. The invention therefore proposes, in a case of the specified type, the improvement in which said slide devices each comprise two rail forming elements disposed on respective ones of said case parts, said elements being adjacent and parallel to one another when the case is closed, said elements each having in transverse cross-section a curved convex surface portion, a slide piece, and means defining a channel in said slide piece for slidably engaging about and straddling said two adjacent elements, said channel including oblique surfaces which contact said curved convex surface portions of said two adjacent elements to grip together said elements and cause compression of said at least one packing member.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, two embodiments of case according to the invention, the first embodiment being a fluid-tight watch case and the second a fluid-tightly closed hollow case for various uses. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a transverse cross-section of the first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged-scale partial cross-section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing only a slide piece;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively an end view and a partial plan view of a part of the first embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a partial transverse cross-section of the second embodiment. v

The watch case with a fluid-tight closure shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises two main case parts l1, 12 adapted to be removably assembled together by means which will be described further on. The case part 11 forms a bezel in which a glass 13, for example in Plexiglas (Trade Mark) material, is fitted. The case part 12 forms a bottom in which is fitted a peripheral flange 14 disposed about a watch movement 15. A dial 16 is fitted above the movement between a shoulder of glass 13 and a recess of flange 14. A winding crown 17 has a stem 18 passing through an aperture in the case parts ll, 12, this aperture being fluid-tightly sealed by conventional packing means 19 including an O-ring 20. Stem 18 passes freely through an opening in flange 14 to cooperate with movement 15.

An elastically deformable fluid-tight packing ring 22 is compressed between an edge 23 of glass 13 and an upper face 24 of flange 14 when the case is closed, as shown in FIG. 1. Similarly an O-ring 25 is pressed between a lower recessed edge of flange 14 and the planar inner surface 26 of the bottom case part 12.

The slide devices for fluid-tightly holding together the two case parts 11, 12 will now be described.

At each of two facing portions of the periphery of the case parts ll, 12 is disposed an elongate partcylindrical element 27, 28 respectively, the greater part of the periphery (in transverse cross-section) of each of these elements being circular. As can be seen in FIG. 2, each element has an edge formed by plane faces which meet together at approximately a first one of these faces being welded against the outer surface of the respective element, and a second one of these faces lying flush with the edge surface of the respective element. The first face of element 27 is thus welded longitudinally against the outer surface of the lower edge of case part 11, and similarly the first face of element 28 is welded longitudinally against the outer surface of the upper edge of case part 12. It can be seen on FIG. 2 that when the case parts 11, 12 are assembled together in the closed position, the second faces of elements 27, 28 meet together with a negligeable play. As will now be described, it is the elements 27, 28 which, in cooperation with a slide piece, ensure closure of the case, the fluid-tightness of which is provided by the packing rings 22 and 25 when they are pressed together by the desired amount.

This slide piece 29 has a plane front face 30 adapted to be applied against two plane parts 31, 32 of the outer surfaces of case parts ll, 12 respectively. Piece 29 car ries lugs 33, one only of which is visible, for the mounting of a bracelet. The piece 29 forms on the one hand a lug-cover and, on the other hand, a slide cooperating with elements 27, 28 which form rails along which the piece 29 is slidably mounted. For this purpose, piece 29 has a longitudinal channel 34 with a cylindrical surface extending from one end, 35, thereof to the proximity of its other, closed end 36. The channel 34 is disposed so as to have a longitudinal opening along the plane face 30. The width and placing of this opening, and the diameter of channel 34 are such that the channel 34 can be slidably engaged about the elements 27, 28 so as to straddle these elements, as shown in FIG. 2, with a con vex surface of each of the elements 27, 28 contacting an oblique surface of the channel 34. The curvature of channel 34 (FIG. 2) is of course lesser than that of the surved parts of the periphery of elements 27, 28, so that when the piece 29 is in its operative position it acts in a wedge-like manner on the elements 27, 28.

The described case is assembled as follows: the case part 11, with the glass 13, is placed on the case part 12 in which the flange 14, movement 15, dial 16, winding crown 17 and stem 18 with its packing means 19, 20, and the packing joints 22 and 25 have been previously placed. The thickness of these two joints 22, 25 in the free, i.e., uncompressed state is such that when the case part 11 is posed in this manner on part 12 without exerting any pressure thereon, there is an appreciable play between the lower edge of case part 11 and the upper edge of case part 12. Moreover, the material of rings 22 and 25 and their dimensions are chosen so that when the two case parts 11, 12 are applied together practically in contact with one another with no visible play therebetween, the rings 22, are compressed by the required amount to ensure fluid-tightness of the case.

To provide this fluid-tight closure, the case parts 11, 12 are pressed together between the thumb and index finger to bring them practically into contact with one another, which presents no difficulty. The channel 34 of piece 29 is then engaged about the elements 27, 28 of the held-together parts 11, 12, and the piece 29 is then slid longitudinally over these elements which act as rails. As stated above, the cooperation of the wall of channel 34 with the cylindrical surfaces of elements 27,

28 takes place in a manner such that the slide piece 29 acts as a wedge on these elements to force them together and hold them in the fluid-tightly closed position shown in FIG. 2.

To open the case, it suffices to slidably remove the slide piece 29 from rail-forming elements 27, 28. Of course, two slide devices each including a slide piece and cooperating pairs of rail-forming elements 27, 28, are disposed on two symmetrically opposed parts of the case, and these two slide devices are identical so that what has been described in relation to one of them is true for both.

The end 35 of channel 34 is open, and a plate 37 is provided for closing it. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shape of plate 37 corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of channel 34, so that it may closely fit therein. To the plate 34 is secured a cylindrical rod 38 arranged to be frictionally engaged between the elements 27, 28 and the wall of channel 34, as shown in FIG. 2. The plate 37 and its rod 38 are thus simply frictionally pushes into place. When the case is opened by removal of the slide piece 29, the plate 37 and its rod 38 move bodily along with the slide piece 29 and are thus automatically removed.

The watch case has not been shown in plan, for the simple reason that it can have any shape whatsoever: circular, square, rectilinear or otherwise. It suffices to have two symmetrically disposed slide-operated gripping devices. The slide piece 29 including channel 34 could be distinct from the lugs.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment including two case 'parts 39, 40 adapted to be assembled together in a 4 39, 40 include surfaces 43, 44 defining a channel in which a fluid-tight packing ring 45 is disposed.

Two elongate elements 46, 47, of a part-cylindrical shape, and the cross-section of which is similar to that of the elements 27, 28 of FIG. 2 but with the outer circular part of the periphery cut-away, are made integral in one piece with the case parts 39, 40 respectively. A slide piece 48 having a longitudinal channel 49 is provided to come to straddle the elements 46, 47 and engage with them in a wedge-like manner to force them together and hold them in the fluid-tightly closed position of the case. According to the dimensions of the case, it would be possible to provide more than two slide-operated gripping devices. Operation for the placing and removal of the slide piece 48 is similar to the of the first embodiment. Seen in plan, the case parts 39,

40 can have any shape whatsoever.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hollow case comprising two main case parts, two slide devices forming means for gripping together said two case parts to fluid-tightly close the case, at least one elastically deformable fluid-tight packing member, and means for compressing said at least one packing member when said two case parts are gripped together by said slide devices, the improvement in which said slide devices each comprise two rail-forming elements disposed on respective ones of said case parts, said elements being adjacent and parallel to one another when the case is closed, said elements each having in transverse cross-section a curved convex surface portion, a slide piece, and means defining a channel in said slide piece for slidably engaging about and straddling said two adjacent rail-forming elements, said channel including oblique surfaces which contact said curved convex surface portions of said two adjacent elements to grip together said elements and cause compression of said at least one packing member.

2. A case according to claim 1, in which said railforming elements are of part cylindrical shape, with a major part of their periphery in transverse cross-section being circular.

3. A case according to claim 1, in which said channel in said slide piece has in transverse cross-section the shape of a major part of a circle.

4. A case according to claim 1, in which said railforming elements arerods welded to said case parts.

5. A case according to claim 1, in which said railforming elements are each made in one piece with the respective case part. 

1. In a hollow case comprising two main case parts, two slide devices forming means for gripping together said two case parts to fluid-tightly close the case, at least one elastically deformable fluid-tight packing member, and means for compressing said at least one packing member when said two case parts are gripped together by said slide devices, the improvement in which said slide devices each comprise two rail-forming elements disposed on respective ones of said case parts, said elements being adjacent and parallel to one anoTher when the case is closed, said elements each having in transverse cross-section a curved convex surface portion, a slide piece, and means defining a channel in said slide piece for slidably engaging about and straddling said two adjacent rail-forming elements, said channel including oblique surfaces which contact said curved convex surface portions of said two adjacent elements to grip together said elements and cause compression of said at least one packing member.
 2. A case according to claim 1, in which said rail-forming elements are of part cylindrical shape, with a major part of their periphery in transverse cross-section being circular.
 3. A case according to claim 1, in which said channel in said slide piece has in transverse cross-section the shape of a major part of a circle.
 4. A case according to claim 1, in which said rail-forming elements are rods welded to said case parts.
 5. A case according to claim 1, in which said rail-forming elements are each made in one piece with the respective case part. 